Join the people who do your job in every other state.
Membership is the journal, the dashboard at agency level, member rates on every event, and a community that has usually already solved the problem on your desk. Dues are set by role, not by agency size, so a county caseworker and a state director each pay what makes sense for them.
Membership options
Annual dues, 2027 rates-
Individual
Caseworkers, supervisors, analysts, and anyone else in eligibility work.
$165per year- Benefits Administration Review, print and online
- Member rates on webinars and the Annual Conference
- Member community and state chapter
- Job board and mentorship program
-
Agency
State, county, or tribal agencies. Covers every eligibility staff member you have.
from $2,400per year, by caseload- Everything in Individual, for all staff
- State Data Dashboard at agency level, with the monthly briefing
- Two seats at the State Directors Forum
- Procurement guidance and vendor evaluations
- Policy Tracker, updated each Friday
-
Early career
Under three years in the field, or a student in public administration or social work.
$45per year- Everything in Individual
- New caseworker webinar series, free
- A mentor matched in your first month
-
Affiliate
Vendors, researchers, consultants, and nonprofits that work with agencies.
$950per year- Journal and Caseload Monthly
- Vendor directory listing
- Member rates on sponsorship and exhibiting
- No vote in governance
What membership gets you
The dashboard, at your level
Every member sees the state view. Agency members see their own offices against neighbors and peers, with the monthly briefing that explains the movement.
The journal and the magazine
Benefits Administration Review four times a year, Caseload Monthly every month, both in print and online.
Member rates on training
Webinars free, the CBA credential at the member rate, and up to $400 off the Annual Conference.
A state chapter
Meetings in your state, a directory of members near you, and a chapter president who knows your legislature.
The Policy Tracker
Every pending federal rule and state waiver that touches eligibility, summarized in plain language, updated each Friday.
A seat in governance
Individual and agency members vote for the board, sit on standards committees, and shape the next revision.
How to join
Pick your option
Individual, agency, early career, or affiliate. If you are not sure, start individual and we will credit the dues if your agency enrolls within the year.
Apply online in about five minutes
Name, role, agency, and a work email. Agency applications ask for a caseload figure so we can set the rate.
Pay by card, invoice, or purchase order
Public agencies can pay on a net-30 invoice. Membership starts the day the application is approved, usually the next business day.
Start the application Questions? membership@apbd.org or (202) 555-0147
Questions people ask before joining
Can my agency pay for my individual membership?
Yes. Most do. Choose "invoice my agency" at checkout and we send the invoice to the contact you name.
We are a county. Do we join as an agency or do staff join individually?
Either works. Agency membership is cheaper once you have more than fifteen eligibility staff, and it is the only way to see the dashboard at office level.
Is the CBA credential included?
No. The credential has its own fee, which is lower for members. Agency members get two seats per year at the member rate.
I work for a vendor. Can I vote?
Affiliate members receive publications and take part in events but do not vote in governance or sit on standards committees. That keeps the standards in the hands of the agencies measured by them.
When does membership renew?
One year from the day you join. We send a reminder at sixty days and at thirty, and nothing else.